METAIRIE, La. -- Keenan Lewis grew up with the Pittsburgh Steelers. And not only did his time spent there help shape him as a player and a person, but it's even having an impact on his new team, the New Orleans Saints.

Lewis has mentioned often this year how he's tried to step up as more of a vocal leader for a young Saints secondary, passing on the kind of advice that veteran Steelers like Troy Polamalu, Ike Taylor and Ryan Clark once passed on to him.

"I'll tell 'em things I learned from guys like Troy and Ike and those guys and to the best of my ability I'll try to help them out," Lewis said Wednesday as he prepares to face his former team for the first time in Pittsburgh on Sunday. "My main goal is to tell them not to get caught up in what the media, what people have to say. Because once you get in that ... when your mind's going, you can't really focus on your game. So I try to help 'em most with that part."

Lewis has also talked often about how much he "truly appreciated" his time spent in Pittsburgh, where he got to learn from some "Hall of Fame guys."

But it's back in his hometown of New Orleans where Lewis has now established himself as a true No. 1 cornerback over the past two years. The Saints signed Lewis to a five-year deal worth between $25.5 and $26.3 million last offseason, and it was some of the best money they've ever spent in free agency.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said this week he's not surprised to see that continued development in the former third-round draft pick.

"The thing that comes to mind when I think about K-Lew is his competitive spirit and his willingness to work on a daily basis," Tomlin said. "This guy works at every opportunity, he's a big-time competitor. Everything is personal. He has all of the components to be a real good corner, which his New Orleans tape has proven that he is. He just brings a blue-collar work ethic, a competitive spirit, to work every day, and those guys you love working with."

Likewise, Saints coach Sean Payton and players this week raved about former receiver Lance Moore, who signed with the Steelers this past offseason after being released by New Orleans.

Moore was a huge part of the Saints' Super Bowl foundation. He actually pre-dated Payton and quarterback Drew Brees, having originally joined New Orleans' practice squad in 2005. Both of them talked this week about how much Moore epitomized all the traits you're looking for when building a team, from his work ethic to his football smarts.

"Lance is the epitome of like a true professional -- a guy who came in, started off on the practice squad and then worked his way to becoming one of our best receivers," Brees said of the undrafted receiver who began his career with the Cleveland Browns.

But the Saints decided to release Moore this offseason when they felt his diminishing role no longer matched his increasing salary.

In Pittsburgh, Moore has played a smaller role as a third or fourth receiver, with 11 catches for 156 yards and two touchdowns.

"He's the savvy veteran that we expected him to be," Tomlin said. "He's a low maintenance guy, he's extremely professional, he's smart, he comes with good ideas, he knows all of the positions. He's very versatile in that way, and we've had to utilize him in that way because he is playing with some young people."

Moore said, "Obviously, thinking selfishly, I would have liked [my time in New Orleans] to have ended in a different way." But he said there were no hard feelings.

"I totally understand the business side," Moore said. "It can't always work out the way that you want it to. That's how it goes. Most guys in their careers at some point come to a situation where you get cut or have to take a pay cut or you get traded.

"I've been cut four times in my career so it's not like I feel like I'm invincible when I'm under contract."

Moore, who still keeps in regular contact with some of his close friends on the Saints, added, "It's definitely going to be one of the more weird games that I've played in."